Wisconsin 78, Northwestern 46
by Loretta8 on Jan 23, 2011 1:47 PM CST
in Northwestern Wildcats Basketball
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PrintAt least it was over quickly.
Northwestern let Wisconsin have their way for pretty much the entire game, opening up a 19 point halftime lead then starting the 2nd half on a 24-4 run to blow the game completely wide open. In fact, the final score doesn't even indicate how bad this was; the NU scrubs outplayed Wisconsin's scrubs in garbage time to cut the final deficit to 32.
It was basically the Illinois game all over again. Wisconsin got any shot they wanted, made the vast majority of their open jumpers, and on the rare occasions where they missed, they got their own rebound. NU's offense looked pretty good for much of the first half, but once Wisconsin got up by double digits, NU stopped running their offense and started chucking early in the shot clock, and their offense stagnated.
• I said in the preview that Drew Crawford could have a big game. Oops. Crawford was horrendous, missing all 6 of his field goals, most of which were contested fadeaways.
• John Shurna had a strong first half when he played within the offense, but he forced things in the 2nd half and started pulling a Crawford (chucking up off-balance jumpers just inside the three point line). He finished with 13 points on 13 field goal attempts.
• Luka Mirkovic was really the only NU player to show up, scoring 13 points and continuing his strong free throw shooting. Sadly, he is a total liability on defense, as he's not strong enough to keep the opponent from setting up in the low post and doesn't have the athleticism to alter shots on the interior. At least he doesn't compound his mistakes by committing dumb fouls, that would be reserved for Davide Curletti, who has mastered the art of making enough contact to get called for a foul but not enough to prevent the other guy from scoring. He's basically the poor man's Vince Scott at this point.
No one else on NU did anything worth discussing, other than playing no defense and not boxing anyone out on the defensive glass. The defensive performance was truly horrendous, as Wisconsin consistently got open perimeter jumpers and made them at an alarming rate. Carmody tried match-up zone, 1-3-1, and even some full court pressure; none of it came close to working. This Northwestern team is just really bad at guarding people one on one; they consistently fail at keeping opponents out of the lane, be it on dribble penetration or on post-ups. Then the defense has to collapse, and it leaves someone wide open for an outside shot. I'm not sure if it's a lack of effort, poor coaching, or just the players not being as good as the opponent, but whatever it is, I really don't see it getting any better in the near future. Tonight, NU let Josh Gasser, who entered today averaging 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game, had 10,12 and 10 for the first triple double in Wisconsin program history. Embarrassing.
It should be said that Wisconsin deserves a lot of the credit for how this game went; they executed their offense flawlessly and seemingly made every open jumper they took. But Northwestern basically laid down in the 2nd half, and that's not acceptable, regardless of the margin. Last year in Madison, Wisconsin shot something like 75% in the first half and had a double digit lead, and I hoped NU would remember how they rallied to make that game interesting, and show some fight coming out of the locker room. Instead, the complete opposite happened, and both the players and coaches should be embarrassed.
Wednesday, Northwestern heads to Minnesota for what is essentially a must-win game at this point. While it's tough to be the slightest bit optimistic about that one, the Gophers have continually allowed bad teams to play them tight at home, and with their point guard Al Nolen questionable after suffering a sprained ankle last night, NU has a chance to steal one on the road. They bounced back nicely from their last embarrassing loss, let's hope they can somehow do it again.
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What, no Amado/Sterling the Vomiting Man pic?
by Foxhole Atheist on Jan 23, 2011 1:58 PM CST reply actions
Not really.
I’m just surprised it wasn’t there. This game seemed more than worthy of him.
by Foxhole Atheist on Jan 23, 2011 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
i wanted to put it up
couldn’t because i was at the game. sorry. my twitter requests somebody else do it went unanswered.
by Rodger Sherman on Jan 24, 2011 10:21 AM CST up reply actions
We got the android Crawford today
0-6, 0 pts, 1 ast, 1 reb
On those kind of nights it would honestly be better to have Capocci, Curletti, or – fuck it – Fruendt out there.
Same old comment from this guy
Full Disclosure: I did not see the first 9 minutes of the first half, and I was at a brunch party and watching the game on mute with other people watching.
Bottom Line: Same old, same old. Just not good enough, NU will not get to the tournament this year. No Top 50 RPI wins, and to be honest, no real hope of getting more than 1 random top 50 win. That will not get it done for the NCAA Tournament. We have lost close games at home/road, blow outs at home/road, but the common theme is this team does not win against Top 50 competition, period
Obviously, I am a new poster to this message board, but have followed the team decently well since 1998. I know the extension has been made, and NU is not a school that fires coaches (EVER). But, I still am shocked that we have 3 more seasons of Bill Carmody at the helm, there is no real promise of us making significant improvement. Sure, our facilities are going to improve, our academic restrictions might get a little looser, and our recruiting is improving. All of that is great and a step in the right direction, but after seeing this team after 8 games in the Big Ten, it is clear that we are a significant step behind the NCAA Tournament teams. Many analysts on ESPN and CBS keep saying how this year the tournament is the easiest to get in, and not only because of 68 teams, but just b/c there are a few elite/top teams, but just a lot of middle ground. Most bracketology predictions have 6 Big Ten teams locked in and room for a seventh, with most projections having Penn State being that team. So, in a year, where we returned 4 of 5 starters, add our best recruit in the Carmody era (according to recruiting projections), 68 teams making the tournament, 7 Big Ten teams being projected, a ‘renewed’ emphasis on defense in the offseason, after all those factors, 8 games into the Big Ten season, this team has no chance at all and no hope in the near future to make the tournament. That is flat-out pathetic.
Fire Bill Carmody’s catchphrase used to be “Because 8th is not good enough”. In our past 3 seasons of better success, NU has finished 9th, 7th, and probably will finish 8th this year, ahead of the horrendous combination of Indiana, Iowa, and Michigan. How does anyone project this team to be better next year? It will be the same story as this past offseason, we’ll return 4 of 5 starters, add some decent/good recruits, talk about defense, and repeat the cycle.
That is just flat-out frustrating. I do not have ideas of who NU could get as a coach, but after 11 seasons, I’m 100% positive that Bill Carmody is not the guy.
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Jan 23, 2011 2:43 PM CST reply actions
Ugh. Same old is right.
Carmody tried match-up zone, 1-3-1, and even some full court pressure; none of it came close to working.
What should he have done?! 2-3? Blindly play man defense? 3-2? Guard their two best shooters, then have the other 3 play zone? Call up Kyle Rowley and say “Hey, no hard feelings, feel like coming back so we can at least laugh at someone?”
Look. Wisconsin was BETTER. I’m sorry. It’s tough, I know. I couldn’t imagine being with the ‘Cats since ’98, and thank you for that, but GOD, who was going to do better that game (maybe I answered my own question)? They shot well. They ran well. They defended well. They are BETTER than us. You can put Phil-freakin-Jackson on the sideline, and we’re not winning that game. Deal with it. Wisconsin was too good. If you want to complain about Carmody’s in-game tactics in reference to this game, pick a better game. We weren’t winning it. If you want to complain about his recruiting, you have a valid concern. You point is made. Complain on a different thread, because it’s old.
This game was a slaughter. Dice it up however you want—Wisconsin was better, they played better, and we need to step it up for big games if we’re going to be a contender for the Big Dance.
He doesn't have the acumen to coach defense, perhaps.
I do not know, I do not know what he should do defensively, but I do know that players look wide open against us compared to other teams.
Yes, Wisconsin is better, no question, but why is this team not better than any good Big Ten team? Yay, we are better than Michigan, Iowa, and Indiana, woohoo! But, not better than anyone else. We are not just losing to top 10 teams, we are losing to teams ranked from 18-25, nothing impossible to win. We lose at home, lose on the road, it doesn’t matter, all that matters is when this team plays a good team, we lose.
In terms of Phil Jackson coaching this team, who knows? I don’t, but I do know Carmody coaches this team, has recruited this team, and has been in charge for this team for 11 seasons.
You said we need to step it up for big games in order to make the NCAA Tournament, please explain to anyone if this teams has ANY hope of that based on what you have seen this season or even the past 2 seasons. This team doesn’t ‘step up’ or any other cliche you can state, simply put, the team is not good enough in personnel or schemes (mainly defensively).
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Jan 23, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions
also
being a b-ball coach isn’t all x’s and o’s. it’s about bringing a team to the stadium that won’t get doubled up.
by Rodger Sherman on Jan 24, 2011 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
The day I see BC guarding Jordan Taylor...
Yes, players look wide open against us because our players just aren’t at the level that they can play a different system of defense. Complain all we want about 1-3-1, matchup zone, switching on picks… You have to play within the system.
This team is not better than any “good” Big Ten team because those teams have better players! How many other schools would start a Luka Mirkovic?! Only the ones we can beat, maybe. As for losing teams ranked anywhere in the Top 25? Most of them, I would argue, have slightly deflated rankings because of their Big Ten schedule/losses. Illinois (3 B10 losses/5 total), Minnesota (3/4), MSU (3/5), and Wisconsin (2/4) are losing to generally good Big Ten teams. Everyone beats up everyone. They all can flat out play. We’re going to lose most of those games with the team we have, as unfortunate as it is.
Based on what I’ve seen? I’ve seen a team come close twice against MSU, fall flat against Illinois on the road, and get embarrassed by Wisconsin at home. Guess what? The Wisconsin loss sucks. I agree. I think we all agree. But this team has the ability to do it. They’ve come damn close, and they were damn close last year.
I don’t know how we can keep rehashing this in different ways: (1) We are not as good as Wisconsin. Please accept that. (2) This team has the ability to “step up” and play up to better teams’ levels. See MSU, parts 1 and 2. (3) Recruiting might not be where you want it to be, that’s valid. But as a coach, you HAVE to be able to put out a system that gives your team the best chance to win. BC can’t do much more with these players on defense. (4) We’re not out of the Dance yet, last I checked. Just a thought fact.
I was at the game
It was pitiful. NU looked like a high school team compared to Wisconsin. The Badgers were faster, bigger and more accurate.
If that’s the best effort NU can put up against a strong Big Ten rival, I won’t be back to any games this year. And anyone clinging to hope of an NCAA Tournament bid would be better served to sit up and wait for Santa Claus.
Ok...
MNWildcat, I have total respect if you think we will make the NCAA Tourney. That is your desire as a fan, but if you realistically that NU will make the tourney, then we just have to agree to disagree.
Also, we can debate about defensive principals vs recruited players, it does not matter to me. Either way, we are losing games and not looking of anything promising in the future.
Good posts, but just some different view points.
by NU Alumni - Class of 2002 on Jan 23, 2011 6:48 PM CST reply actions
I think we can make the Tourney
Today wasn’t an elimination game. We still have to play Penn State 2x, We still have Minnesota 2x, and we still get another shot at Wisconsin. That’s probably 4-7th in conference — just flush this game.
I don’t think the defense was that bad in the opening half — they just kept hitting those bailout threes. With their decided size advantage underneath with Leuer/Nankivil, we were toast. I didn’t expect Gasser and Bruisewitz to be so terrific today — yeah, they’re role players, but man they were just awesome. But when Bucky got rolling — hoo boy. Some days it’s just not your night.
www.massivecreativity.com
by macarthur31 on Jan 23, 2011 7:07 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
As an alumni of NU, it is embarrassing
watching the same thing year after year with Bill
How we don’t find new blood is beyond me
We are going NOWHERE under Bill
We are .500? GREATTTT!
We can do better
Disheartening loss, but lots of season left
So far this season, we’ve beaten the teams we’re supposed to beat (sometimes in blowout fashion), and we’ve lost to the teams we haven’t been favored against (sometimes in blowout fashion). That’s gotten us to a 13-6 record right now.
For those who say this program is going nowhere, there have been seasons where we have not been favored in 13 games all year. So the fact that we’re putting away those teams we’re supposed to beat, I take that as progress for the program.
We’re not yet halfway through the BigTen season yet. We’ve got two match-ups against Penn State left, and that’s the team we’re likely battling for the last tournament slot from the conference. We will also need to hold serve against Iowa, Michigan and Indiana and also will need to pick up an upset against Minnesota, Illinois at home, Wisconsin on the road, or, dare I say it, Ohio State. Our opportunities for resume-enhancing wins are dwindling, but this season isn’t over yet, by a stretch.
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